HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[Urbannizer]

Big batch of updates, first set c/o ChannelTwoNews (Watteleigh here on SSP) 1/17 - 1/19.

SkyHouse









Main & Leeland







The Sovereign





2929 Weslayan





9807 & 9811 Katy Fwy







Energy Tower IV





Shell Woodcreek Expansion





Energy Center IV





West Memorial Place





Updates by larrydierker - 1/19

Premier Medical Center







Broadstone Medical Center





Brazos Towers at Bayou Manor





SWN Energy HQ: By Cloud713

[M. Incandenza]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Broadstone Medical Center

I like all the infill devlopment, but these deals with the boxy towerish elements and the faux cornices and the mixed facades that are popping up everywhere... I'm not sure these are gonna age too well. They just look a bit cheap and kind of strange. Better than what they were putting up any time between, oh, 1950 and 2005, at least.

[DanielG425]

2014 was said to be the year of apartments and hotels for Houston, but when are the hotels going to be announced? Does anyone know?

[Htowngrown]

Originally Posted by DanielG425

2014 was said to be the year of apartments and hotels for Houston, but when are the hotels going to be announced? Does anyone know?

Well a lot of the hotel projects have already been announced in the downtown area such as the Hyatt Place and Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites(Block 75 Downtown, Breaking Ground sometime 1Q) and the Marriott Marquis Convention Center Hotel (April 11 Ground Breaking) as well as the JW Marriott and Holiday Inn that are already under renovation. While the year of the apartment/hotels is probably referring to all the 2013 proposals finally breaking ground, there are still a few announcements coming in the next few months. The 25 story hotel component for Greenstreet should be announced by the end of February and there's rumors that Ritz-Carlton is looking downtown as well as other luxury brands looking around the Houston area. Downtown alone is looking at 2500+ rooms, another 2000 for Uptown, and then thousands of more rooms will be spread out around the metro area and in other employment centers. I doubt Houston will ever see another hotel boom like it's about to see in the next few years. Patience my friend! You have to enjoy it while it lasts!

[M. Incandenza]

Instead of living large, millennials thinking small

The modern apartment is increasingly likely to look like this: a 380-square-foot space with a separate bedroom; a kitchen with fewer cabinets and more shelves; and a place in the garage to plug in an electric car.

“Things are changing quickly,” architect Mark Humphreys said last week during a webinar in which he and other industry experts presented their outlooks and new trends for the apartment market.

Units have been getting smaller as more 20-somethings – a key segment of the renter population – no longer want roommates or big pieces of furniture requiring large spaces.

“Millennials coming into apartments don’t own a whole lot other than technology,” said Doug Bibby, president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Multi Housing Council.

Several years ago, Humphreys designed a project in The Woodlands where the smallest units were 550 square feet. There’s now a waiting list to get one.

The floor plans with 380 square feet, known as “micro units,” are slowly making it to Houston. Humphreys designed some in a project in Katy, and he said there’s “no question” more will start to show up in the urban core.

It’s a trend he calls “the Manhattanization of the United States.”

Manhattanization? That's a pretty huge stretch. The rest of the country has about a billion miles to go before it even Brooklynifies, let alone Manhattanizes. Anyways, here's hoping the trend continues, and I'll be interested to see if it does so for families, not just singles - seems like that's what could really allow for some really significant positive changes in the shape of the city, even well beyond the Loop.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by M. Incandenza

I like all the infill devlopment, but these deals with the boxy towerish elements and the faux cornices and the mixed facades that are popping up everywhere... I'm not sure these are gonna age too well. They just look a bit cheap and kind of strange. Better than what they were putting up any time between, oh, 1950 and 2005, at least.

Hopefully 20-30yrs from now that apartment complex will be demolished for something better, Broadstone has an exact copy of that one u/c in Uptown as well.

Regarding hotel development, Catie Dixon at Bisnow will be speaking to a hotel expert later this week, so we may get an update on a few hotel projects.

[toxteth o'grady]

Originally Posted by N90

The office market is very strong. Incredible absorption and low vacancy rate.

http://www.coydavidson.com/office/ho...eport-4q-2013/

And yet another number. So is the absorption 2.9 million or 5.1 million? It's obvious everyone's database has a different inventory.

[N90]

Originally Posted by toxteth o'grady

And yet another number. So is the absorption 2.9 million or 5.1 million? It's obvious everyone's database has a different inventory.

It depends how you classify Class A, Class B, Class C.

Every agency has their own standard so there isn't an authority on it. The main thing reflected from all of them is positive absorbtion in the millions, decreasing vacancies, while more projects enter the market.

The posterchild prereqs for a healthy office market.

[natenate]

I agree all these apartments are starting to look the same, and when that happens it starts to take away some of their "pizzaz". I would love to see some street level type apartments in the high density areas, kinda like a brownstone effect-ish but not exactly the same obviously. While I'm on the topic of wishing i would love to see some more affordable built apartments in the loop, but i know that makes little economical sense.

[toxteth o'grady]

Originally Posted by natenate

I agree all these apartments are starting to look the same, and when that happens it starts to take away some of their "pizzaz". I would love to see some street level type apartments in the high density areas, kinda like a brownstone effect-ish but not exactly the same obviously. While I'm on the topic of wishing i would love to see some more affordable built apartments in the loop, but i know that makes little economical sense.

In that regard, the Astoria is going to look like pretty cool design when it is topped out. I think most of the creativity will be reserved for anything 20 stories or taller.

[natenate]

Originally Posted by toxteth o'grady

In that regard, the Astoria is going to look like pretty cool design when it is topped out. I think most of the creativity will be reserved for anything 20 stories or taller.

I totally agree. I remember when the original renderings came out I was highly impressed. It looked like a highrise that was designed for NY

[Urbannizer]

More photos c/o ChannelTwo News - 1/21

Energy Center III & IV













Belmont Village



Fairmont Museum District: c/o The Pragmatist

[N90]

http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-rea...ct-investment/

[N90]

Houston's poised to become a future hub of space flight once it gets the permit for its spaceport at Ellington Field.

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/blo...ommercial.html

[N90]

On hotels

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/new...rend-will.html

[N90]

2013 was the best year on record for Houston real estate.

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/new...ords-best.html

[N90]

Also a steel company expands into Houston. Will build a new facility as Houston's industrial sector proves to still be robust.

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/new...its-first.html

[N90]

Allen Parkway/Montrose to get a new dog park.

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/i...is-on-the-way/

[Urbannizer]

16-Story Monster Garage

By urban909



By Nate99





Sunrise Birdsall Apartments: 1/115

[N90]

http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livab...ystem-package/